INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer |ForumIAS

News: Three frontline combatants, INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer were commissioned into the Indian Navy for the first time.

INS Surat

INS Surat is a stealth-guided missile destroyer and the fourth and final vessel under Project 15B.
It is also known as the Visakhapatnam class.
It is India’s first warship to be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.

Capabilities

It has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and a length of 164 meters.
It is powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system, comprising four gas turbines.
It can achieve speeds of over 30 knots (56 km/h).
It is armed with state-of-the-art surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes.
It is also equipped with advanced sensors and network-centric warfare capabilities.
It is designed for offensive naval operations having high speed, maneuverability, and superior strike power.

INS Nilgiri is the lead ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class.
The ship was launched in September 2019. It was commissioned into the Navy in 2025.
 Built by: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata
It is the first of seven frigates being constructed under this project, using an integrated construction methodology to reduce build time.

Capabilities

The ship is designed to operate in blue-water environments. It can address both conventional and non-conventional threats.
It is equipped with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles and medium-range surface-to-air Missiles (MRSAM).
It also has a 76-mm upgraded gun and rapid-fire close-in weapon systems.
It is designed for multi-mission operations, including anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.

INS Vaghsheer is the sixth and final submarine of the Kalvari-class.
It is a diesel-electric attack submarine is based on the Scorpene-class design.
It is named after a type of sandfish found in the Indian Ocean.
Developed by: It has been developed by the French Naval Group.

Specification

It is equipped with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems, making it one of the quietest submarines in its class.
It also features a modular design that allows for future upgrades, such as the integration of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems, expected from 2026 onward.
It can perform diverse missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations.

Shared Significance

They highlight India’s increasing self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
These combatants are also emphasizing strategic and economic significance and reinforcing India’s role as a security provider in the region.